Beach Bootcamp Weekend in Holland: 3 Days of Outdoor Fitness by the Water

The retreat runs at the Surf- und Segelzentrum Brouwersdam near Ouddorp in the Netherlands, a spot on the inland lake with the wide North Sea beach a short walk away. The main building was fully renovated in 2017 and has a lounge and bar area where people gather between sessions, plus a well-stocked surf shop and an attached surf and sailing school that runs SUP taster lessons right outside. Beach clubs along the sand give the whole place a holiday feel rather than a bootcamp-bunker one.

Training is led by personal trainers and split into groups of no more than 12 participants per trainer. Typical sessions include bootcamp work in the sand using tyres and sleds, a morning run or walk, stretch and relax units with yoga elements, fascial training and a core cardio class. Intensity is adjusted to your level, so beginners and regular exercisers can be in the same weekend without either being bored or broken. Expect around 2 to 3 hours of sport and fitness per day.

A sample day looks like this: a healthy snack and morning run or walk at 08:30, a relaxed breakfast in the lounge at 10:00, stretch and relax at 11:30, a light lunch at 13:15, optional SUP or free time from 14:00, a CORE CARDIO DELUXE workout at 16:30, and dinner at 20:00. The exact schedule shifts depending on weather and group, but the rhythm of movement, food and rest stays similar.

Food is full board: two snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, freshly prepared and on the healthy side. Allergies and dietary requirements like vegetarian or vegan are noted at booking and the kitchen works around them. The point is to fuel the training and send you home with a few ideas for eating well in normal life, without it feeling like a diet.

What separates this from a standard fitness weekend is the setting and the extras. The Brouwersdam is a world-class kitesurf and windsurf spot, and the surf and sailing school on site means you can add stand up paddling, a waterjump or kitesurfing to your weekend. The camp is also certified under §20 of the German health insurance code, which means many participants can claim up to €199 back. And because it's only three days, it works as a proper break without using a full week of holiday.

What's included

- 2 nights' accommodation in beach bungalows or Deluxe rooms - 3 days full board: 2 snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily - Bootcamp sessions in the sand with tyres and sleds - Yoga and stretch & relax sessions - Fascial training and mobility work - Guided morning runs and walks through the dunes - Core cardio workout classes - Maximum 12 participants per trainer - Health insurance certification under §20 (claim up to €199 back)

What's not included

- Travel to and from Brouwersdam - Optional kitesurfing, waterjump, SUP and beach buggy activities - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Drinks outside of meals